The field of Near Eastern Studies and its various disciplines, from Archaeology to Assyriology, from prehistory to modern times, are now more than ever in need of a charter addressing general ethical principles that concern all scholars in this field, both as individuals and collectively. Such a charter must also respect the autonomy of scholars and their freedom of expression. The current document constitutes a first step in that direction.

Peter Stone, UNESCO Chair in Cultural Property Protection and Peace, Newcastle University and Chair of the UK National Committee of the Blue Shield, welcomes the new Cultural Property Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech. The bill calls for “the UK to ratify the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of armed conflict, dealing in cultural property illegally exported from occupied territory to be made criminal offence, and property protected under the convention and its protocols to be identified by new Blue Shield”.

Take a look back on history: The 50th Anniversary of Navajo Film Themselves, a special film program at the Penn Museum of Archaeology Saturday, June 11, 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the Museum’s Rainey Auditorium